OK. F1 is happily watching a movie (probably for the 700th time) and F2 is asleep after the biggest bowl of porridge you've ever seen. That boy eats more than me!
Where was I? Oh right... Mum... homage... treasures... tears. That's how it usually ends when I start talking about my Mum and if I'm going to cry I'm going tomake you cry!
So! I'd decided to start up Little Treasures from scratch, by myself, with very little funds and two kids while also working for our fruit shop. Luckily I've pretty much quit working physically in the shop however I still do the accounts and payroll, so I'm probably doing a 20 hour week. I'm not looking for sympathy I just want you all to know how flipping crazy I am.
Now I'd decided to do Little Treasures I wanted TO DO Little Treasures. I wanted stock and a website and a gorgeous logo and I wanted it now. But there were a few things in the way... like I had no stock, no website and no gorgeous logo.
For people who know me, they know I looooove research. I don't buy a toothbrush without researching which one is the best for me and my family. I started researching baby stuff and wholesale stuff and wholesale baby stuff and competitors. I had the largest stroke of luck... a baby trade show coming up!!! and soon!!! I really like exclamation marks!!! You'll get used to it!!!
The Kids InStyle trade show was in Sydney in 3 weeks. In the meantime, we were going to Noosa for the weekend for a friend's 40th (I know, a whole weekend!), my oldest friend was having her baby shower, F2 was booked in to have a small operation, F1 had his first ever birthday party to go and the usual intricacies of family life were going on. Whenever would I get the time to research everything I needed to research? Like everything you just have to make it work. The kids weren't QUITE abandoned and the house isn't TERRIBLY clean but I managed to put food on the table and keep the clothes clean (but no ironing for me, I only iron labels onto the kids clothing now thanks to Shannon Lush and some lavender oil).
It was during these 3 weeks I started the Business and Marketing Plans and managed to work out the who, what, where and why of the business. I knew I wanted to stock quality baby goods, but tooling around on the internet I realised there are so many talented people out there. Why not tap into that market? I'd tried embellishing stuff for the kids myself... no good. I have zero talent in the sewing department. But why not be a conduit for all these talented people to sell their goods to a broader market? I guess you could say I'd found my Competitive Advantage. Which is key in a market with so much competition.
Look out world, I'm going to bring Brisbane's talent into YOUR home!
I think I'll leave the trade show until the next post. It really needs it's own Title and everything...
No comments:
Post a Comment